Shoetree



Feb. 27, 1940.` A R, ANDERSQN 2,191,785

SHOETREE Filed May 28, 1958 H/ /l 3mm/Wyo l?. 5 Arf/7a2 f?. Ande/1502? adm/Manja Patented Feb.. v217, 1940 if UNITED vSTATES PATENTyFFCE 2,191,785v '1 i f y l vsnon'rmm Arthur n. Anderson, North Arlington, N. J. Applioation May 2s, 193s, soriai No. 210,726.;

11 oiaims.- (o1. 1ra-128.6)

My invention relates to shoe trees and more particularly to shoe treesl which may be quickly adapted to t properly after being inserted within the shoes.

Very few shoe trees are now yin use which can be -adjusted to proper i length while they are within the shoes. Many of these trees are ad` justed by means of screw devices which are not onlyr expensive but are slow and laborious to operate. i' Av few -shoe trees have resilient sections which tend to spring the trees into position when released after insertion inthe shoes but a major difficulty'withthese resilient trees klies in the selection of a `suitable resilient orv spring section. When thel spring section is light, so as toy be easily bent, it isoften too weak toproperly t the shoe tree into the shoe. Where the spring -is very strong it cannot easily be bent, especially by people with weak hands, and is therefore objectionable.

Practically all other types of shoe trees yhave to be adjusted to proper length before being inserted within the shoes and then are usually expanded to fit the shoes insome suitable manner such as by straightening out a broken. toggle joint. These trees are ordinarily objectionable because of the time. usually required to kmake trial adjustments before a suitable adjustment is found since the shoe tree must be' removed from the shoe for each adjustment. Furthermore, these adjustments are usually stepby step arrangements and do not continuously increase n the length of thev tree so that proper. fitting of it isa major object of the present invention tov the shoe tree tothe shoe is hardly ever obtained.v With the above defects of the prior art in mind provide a novel shoe tree which is inexpensiveto manufacture, sturdy and simple in construction and positive and powerful in action' so thatl it can be quickly and easily adjusted toV proper length without bucklingv within 'a shoe in which it vhas been inserted and ljust. asr easily removed from the shoe when desired.

A further'object of my invention is to provide anovel shoe tree having slidably connected heel and toe sections which can be inserted within a shoe in a contracted state and then quickly and leasily expanded to properly fit the shoe. Specifi-l cally the heel and toe sections are also pivotally interconnected to permit easy insertion of the tree within the shoe.

It isvstill a further` object of myinvention to` provide a shoe tree having novel contraction and expansion control means wherein one continuous j pushing movement of .the control lhandle will n able.

force the shoe'tree into intimate contact with the shoe and at the same time expand the same to fit the shoeproperly and wherein a continuous pullingmovement of the'control handle4 `serves to contract the shoe tree and subsequently positively maintain longitudinal separation be tween the heel and toe 'sections within a shoe.

In specific embodiment of the invention' suitable means are provided for' limiting yseparation between the section and preventing said section from becoming entirelydisconnected from each A further object of myinvention is to provide a novel shoe tree' made up of relatively slidable heel and toe 'sections wherein the heel and toe sectionsmay'be quickly and easily relatively displaced longitudinally within a shoe until the shoe tree is of properlengthto fit properly within the shoe.

Further objects of the invention will presently appear as the description proceeds in 'connection with the annexed drawing and the appended claims. y f

yFigure 1 is a top plan view of "ashoe tree illustrating an embodiment of the invention; In Figure 1 the shoe tree is in a contracted state.

Figure 2'i`s a side elevation of the shoe tree of Figure 1 illustrating the cam operated linkage for relatively displacing the heel and toe sections.

Figure 3 is a side elevation in section taken along line 3--3 in Figure l but in which the parts of theI shoe tree are shownv in partially expanded condition.

The shoe tree illustrated ini the drawing is made of two separate, preferably integral parts comprising a heel section l l anda toe section l2. These sections are preferably made of hard wood or some other suitable rigid material and all of the surface portions thereof which are liable to contact the shoe within which the tree is tted are preferably roundedand smoothed. A good grade of wood-has been found to be highly suit- The toe section is provided preferably with a plurality of longitudinal slots I3 which not only reduce the weight of the toe section but permit adequateventilation of the interior 'of the shoe.'

AAdjacent end surfacesv M/ and.r l5 of sections I l and l'2 respectively,fare preferably flat and are bore I9 to the rear end of slot 22.

Figure2, groove 23 is provided with a forwardly.

slightly larger than the cross section of arm 34 c and slot 42 is designed to serve as a canislot.

adapted to abut when the shoe tree is in its contracted state, or position of shortest length as shown in Figure 2. Surfaces I4 and I5 preferably are inclined forwardly toward the toe section to allow free pivotal movement of the toe section at all times as will later be explained.

The top surfaces of the heel and toe sections are cut away at I6 and II respectively, to provide relatively fiat areas at their adjacent opposing ends which are aligned cooperatively when the shoe tree is fully contracted as shown in Figures 1 and 2. An upstanding shoulder I8 extends from the cut away portion I6 to the rear end of heel section II and is provided with a substantially centrally disposed cylindrical socket I9 which extends a substantial distance toward the bottom of heel section II.

Heel section II and toe section- I2 are provided with substantially centrally located, aligned, narrow longitudinal slots 2| and 22 respectively, which are open at adjacent ends at surfaces I4 and I5 respectively, A relatively wide groove 23 is formed in heel portion II and extends from As shown in and upwardly inclined bottom surface 24 which terminates at portion I6 adjacent surface I4. Slots 2I and 22 are preferably of slightly less depth than bore I9, and slot 22 extends forwardly from surface I5 to a point near the front edge of cut away portion II.

The .heel and toe sections are interconnected by a rigid, flat link 25 of metal, or some other suitable material, disposed with its opposite end portions inv slots 2l and 22. Link 25 is pivoted adjacent its front end upon a removable pivot pin 26 which is preferably non-rotatably secured in a suitable aperture 30 lin toe section II vand extends through the upper part of slot 22 approximately normal thereto. The thicknessA of link 25 is slightly less than the Width of slots 2l and 22 and the width of link 25 is materially less than the depth of slots 2| and 22. Fronttoe section II is therefore, freely pivotally connected to the frontend of link 25.

Heel section Il is slidably connected to the rear portion of link 25. A pair o f removable guide pins 21 and 28 are non-rotatably mounted in suitable apertures 29 and 3I in heel section II and extend through `slot `2I and groove 23 respectively, substantially normal to link 25. Guide pins 2'I and 28 and pivot pin 26 are preferably in substantial horizontal alignment when the tree sections are in the position of Figure 1. Link 25 is provided with a pair of longitudinally extending slots 32 and 33 through which pins 21 and 28 respectively extend so that heel section I I is longitudinally slidable with respect to link 25.

Link 25 is provided adjacent its rear end with a rigid arm 34 which extends upwardly and forwardly therefrom, through and above groove 23. Arm 34 is preferably integral with link 25 although it may be a separate element rigidly secured thereto. Arm 34 is provided at its upper end with an enlarged stop formation 35 for a purpose later to be described.

A plunger 35, of wood or any other suitable material, is slidable vertically in bore I9 and is provided with an enlarged handle portion 3l for convenient manipulation. Below handle 37, plunger 36 is provided with a collar 38 from which a bar 39 extends forwardly and substantially horizontally. Adjacent its forward end, bar 39 is formed with a lateral flange-4I which is slotted at 42 to slidably receive arm 34. ySlot 42 is only while arm 34 functions as a cam follower. Barl 39 may be secured to plunger 33 in any suitable manner and may even be integral with the plunger if the latter is composed ofvmetal or some other similar rigid material.

When plunger 33 is vertically reciprocated in l bore I9, such vertical motion will be translatedv f into relative horizontal movement between link 25 and heel section I I due to the camming` action of slot 42 and arm 34. Groove 23 is of such width as to allow vertical passage of flange 4I as plunger 36 nears thevbottom of its stroke. Plunger 36 isprevented from being pulled entirely out of bore I9 by stop formation `35 which cooperates withthe top vof flange 4I when the plungerhas reached .its upper limit.

When the shoe tree is in contracted position as shown in Figure 2, surfaces I4 and I5 arepreferably in abutment, guideV pins2'i -and 28 are dis posed adjacent the forward edges of their'respe'cf tive cooperatingslots in link 25and the upper surface of flange 4I is substantially in contact with stop formation 35. The permissible ex" panded length of the shoe tree may be determined by the engagement Yof the lower end of plunger 35 and thebottorn of bore I9, or by the engagement of guide .pins 2Iand 28 with the rear edges of their respective cooperating slots in link 2 5.

The heel and toe sections lcannot beentirely detached from one another due to their abovev described method of connection to link 25', 'and stop formation 35 prevents removal of plunger 36. Preferably collar 38 is integralwith bar 39 and may be bent about plunger-.36 after bar 39r has been slidably connected to arm 34 by rocking slot 42 `over stop formation'35'. However, the preferred manner of `assembling the device is to arrange the parts in operative relation and then drive pins 26, 2I and 28 into their respective apertures.

Operation vThe shoe. trees of the invention are made in different sizes suitablel for properly fitting dif;

ferent sizes of shoes. After selecting a shoe tree.

ofA desired size, it is `collapsed to a contracted state preferably by grasping heel section II in one hand and pulling outwardly on handle 31 vwith the other hand. This causes link 25 to Islide rearwardly along guide pins 2l and 28 and toe section I2 is pulled'rearwardly into abutment. and alignment with the heel section.

The shoe tree is then placed in the shoe b y 4.

inserting. the toe'section and pushing the tree. forwardly as far as possible. Usually the tree is broken to-effect this operation by rocking the heel section in a clockwise direction about its pivot at 25. As shown in Figure 2, link 25 terminates adjacent pivot 26 and .surfacesA I4 and I5 are kforwardly inclined. `This arrangement permits such free pivotal movement of heel section II in a clockwise direction about pivot 26'. After forward motion ofk the toe section. has stopped, the heel section is pushed inwardly to rock it in a counterclockwise direction about pivot 26 and seat it snugly within the rear portion of the shoe.. Usually this movement of the lheel section is effected by grasping handle 3'! and pushing inwardly until thev heel section is properly seated. At this time'the shoe tree will be disposed within the shoe in the contracted state shown in Figure 2. To'expand the tree to'p'rop` erly fit the shoe it is necessary only to continue The shoe tree is shown in partially expanded condition in Figure 3. The bottom of plunger 3B may cooperate with the bottom of bore I9 to limit permissible expansion of the tree or if desired, the `same result may be obtained by engagement of guide pins 2l and 28 against the rear edges of their respective guide slots.

Often the length of the shoe to be fitted is such thatA proper iitting is attained before plunger 36 has reached the bottom of bore i9. However, cam arm 3l! and cam slot 42 are so designed that they will maintain the shoe tree in such maximum obtainable expanded position at any point between the fully contracted state shown in Figure,A 2 and a fully expanded state. Thus, it is necessary only to push handle 3l downwardly until the above mentioned stops prevent further separation of the heel andtoe sections, or until the shoe itself resists further expansion. In either case the angularly disposed edges of cam slot '42 and cam arm 34 will cooperate to frictionally lock the tree sections in expanded position.

In order to removethe shoe tree `from a shoe, itis necessary only to grasp the shoe with one hand and pull upwardly on handle 3l with the other. Initial movement of handle 3l will release the frictional lock at the cam portions and cause thetree sections to be displaced toward each other, with the parts moving in opposite directions toythose above recited in describing expansion of the` shoe. After the shoe tree has contracted sufliciently, continued pulling on handle 3l will rotate heel section l l in a clockwise direction about pivot 25 and enable the whole tree to be subsequently pulled bodily out of the shoe with a single continuous motion.

Although the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawing discloses a shoe tree in which some of the adjustment parts project from the tree sections, it will be apparent that the same adjustment could be fully housed within a shoe tree of suitable size except for projecting handle 3l and the upper partA of 'plunger 36. Such a completely housed mechanism would-present a pleasing appearance to the eye andwould have no projecting points or corners which might become entangled with clothing or other objects.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing' from the spirit or essenti-al characteristics thereof. The present embodiment is therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the

appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein. i

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A shoe tree comprising cooperating heel and toe sections slidably connected together, means for relatively separating said sections to fit a shoe in which they have been inserted, a manual control handle for said means slidable generally toward said shoe to cause separation of said sections and slidable generally away from said shoe to cause said sections to move toward each other whereby said handle is manually grasped and pushed to force said tree into iirm contact with said shoe and expand the tree with one continuous motion and said handle may be grasped and pulledto effect contractionof said tree and subsequent removal of said tree from said shoe with another continuous motion.

2. A shoe tree comprising cooperating heel and toe sections, means slidably connecting said sections Ifor relative longitudinal movement, means operable while said tree is in a shoe for causing relative longitudinal displacement of said sections to lengthen said tree to fit saidk shoe and automatic frictional locking means for positively 'maintaining said lshoe tree in said lengthened state. 3. A shoe tree comprising cooperating heel and toe sections, means for slidably and pivotally interconnecting said sections and means for adjusting said shoe tree to t a shoe into which it has been inserted comprising interiitting cam slot and slide means for relatively longitudinally displacing said sections, said cam means also providing a positive frictional lock for maintaining said shoe tree in lengthened state. Y

4.l A shoe tree comprising cooperating heeland toe sections, interconnecting means pivotally attached to one section and slidably engaged with the other of said sections and means slidably mounted on said other section and movable substantially normal to said interconnecting means andy cooperating with said interconnecting means to cause relative longitudinal displacement of said sections. v v i v 5. A shoe tree comprising cooperating heel and toe sections, means pivotally attached to said toe section and slidably yengaged with said heel sectionand cam means slidably mounted on said heel section cooperating with said first-namedl means for relatively longitudinally separating said sections upon sliding movement of said slidable cam means.

6. A shoe tree comprising cooperating heel and toe sections, a link pivotally connected adjacent one end to said toe section, guide means on said heel section for slidably receiving the other end 0f said link, means projecting upwardly from said link adjacent said kheel section and slidable means on said lheel section; for engaging said projecting `means to displace said link along said guide sof said section and cooperating cam surfaces o-n said arm and said control means.

8. A shoe tree comprising cooperating heel and toe sections which areprovided with aligned longitudinal slot formations, a link disposed within said slots, said link being pivotally connected to said toe l'section and slidably disposed Within the slot in said heel section, means for limiting the travel of said link along said heel slot, an arm rigid with said link extending upwardly from said link at the heel section and a control element substantially vertically slidably disposed on said heel section and provided with a forwardly extending vearn member, said cam member being apertured to slidably receive said arm so that when said control element is adjusted vertically said cam member causes said link to be displacedl longitudinally along said heel section.y

9. The shoe tree of claim 8, wherein said control element is provided with a handle which is accessible for manipulation when said 'tree has been inserted in a shoe.

l0. A shoe tree comprising cooperating heel and toe sections, a link pivotally connected to one section and slidably connected to the other section, a cam arm integral with said link projecting upwardly from said link, a slidable control member on one of said sections and means on said member cooperating with said cam arm for translating sliding motion of said member into relative longitudinal displacement of said sections.

11. In a shoe tree, a linkfor pivot-ally interconnecting heel and toe sections having an upwardly projectingarrn and a control arm slidablyy u mounted upon one of said sections,vone of said arms being provided with a slotted guide Within which a portion of the other arm is slidably re- 

